Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

After the war, Shirou used the influence of Tokiomi Tohsaka, Risei Kotomine, and the Matou family to exert full control over information regarding the truth of the Holy Grail War.

However, because the incident had become so serious that even monsters had landed in Japan, it was impossible to completely cover it up.

Rumors mingled and gave rise to new rumors, turning the Fourth Holy Grail War into a legend in the far east.

Among the many anecdotes that have been passed down, there are quite absurd ones, such as—

Ah, Shirou has also heard that rumor.

In the Fourth Holy Grail War, the strongest Master in history appeared.

Sometimes it refers to the appearance of a young child.

Sometimes it appears as an adult.

He displayed overwhelming power in the life-or-death war, turning Fuyuki into his own personal stage.

Whether it's a powerful clan that controls the land's spiritual veins, a genius monarch of the Clock Tower—even heroes and kings from myths and legends are no exception.

It makes no difference whether the enemy is a magician or a servant; the magician defeats all enemies single-handedly.

Defeat?

No, it would be more appropriate to call it a "massacre" or "ravages".

Then--

At the end of the carnage, facing the all-powerful wish-granting machine that was within his grasp, the strongest magician gave it up without any hesitation.

why?

Why give up when we've already come this far?

Isn't the reason obvious?

The power of the Holy Grail was far too insignificant to this magician—it was negligible.

He chuckled and sent the Holy Grail back into slumber.

In the end, only the strongest battle record imprinted on the Far East remains.

That's way too exaggerated.

Shirou was speechless when he heard this rumor.

Oh dear, who is this magician talking about? It can't be me!

Irisviel...the rumors about you outside are really outrageous!

"While rumors shouldn't be taken at face value, they can't be baseless fantasies either, can they?"

Aozaki Aoko stared at Shirou with a smile, and the latter immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

"Hey... tell me, Shirou-kun!"

The fifth mage urged her on curiously, her ample breasts swaying wildly.

What percentage of the rumors about the Fourth Holy Grail War are true? Twenty percent? Forty percent?

No, since even Kenneth is so tight-lipped, he must have experienced something truly terrifying—

So at least 60% of it is true? Wow, so it's true that you defeated the Servant too?

In the brightly lit café, Aozaki Aoko made no attempt to hide her curiosity about the secrets of the Holy Grail War.

Amamiya-kun is... a survivor of that magic ritual held in Fuyuki?

Kuonji Yuju was also unexpectedly surprised.

She realized from the beginning that Shirou was no ordinary child.

Even though she already knew this, hearing Aoko talk about Shirou's story felt like she'd been hit hard on the head with a hammer.

The girl's mind was in complete chaos, and she didn't know what to say.

Uh, does Aoko understand Amamiya-kun better than I do?

No, is that what I should be concerned about right now?

Shirou stared at the coffee cup in front of him, took a big gulp, and then said.

"...I have no comment."

"No comment... Hahahaha!"

Aozaki Aoko slapped the table and laughed.

The guests at the next table heard the laughter and looked over, but Qingzi didn't care at all about what others thought.

After a while, Aozaki Aoko wiped her eyes and finally stopped laughing.

"Shirou-kun is really interesting... I'm sorry, I asked a question I shouldn't have asked."

This is definitely not something you can discuss with someone you've just met. I'm sorry for causing you trouble.

“It’s alright,” Shirou said. “I’m the one who should apologize. It was my side that extended the invitation first.”

Aozaki Aoko pinched her chin: "Hey... Shirou-kun has the serious personality of a committee chairman."

Because you have a good relationship with Yuzhu, I originally thought you would be a more eccentric child.

No… this “normal” state is actually what makes you most “abnormal”? Oh, I see…

At that moment, the mage suddenly felt a stinging gaze.

—So it was Youzhu who was watching him.

Such a strong protective instinct, hehehe...

Aozaki Aoko knows Kuonji Yuju very well.

From her appearance, Yuzhu is a cold, introverted, pitiful, and even somewhat shy, taciturn beautiful girl.

But Aoko knew very well that she was a complete witch at heart.

Gloomy, malicious, vengeful, and fond of pranks.

These are the essential elements that define the soul of Kuonji Yuju.

but--

That wicked modern witch has now disguised herself as a good girl.

...You're really something, Shirou-kun!

Aozaki Aoko smiled and quickly explained to the red-haired boy under pressure from her old friend.

"Well... there's no need to be so wary of me, I don't mean any harm."

Shirou nodded: "Yes, Miss Aoi already told me before... If you pay too much attention to what Aoko-nee says, it will give you a headache."

"It's about time we got down to business," Yuzhu said softly.

Hearing her urging, Aozaki Aoko's expression turned serious.

"Then allow me to ask—Shirou-kun, is there something you need from me?"

In that instant, Shirou felt completely suppressed.

Stared at by the Fifth Magician's clear, sapphire-blue eyes, Shirou completely forgot about the roundabout words he had prepared.

He swallowed hard and said this.

"I am... a time traveler."

"what?"

Kuonji Yuju let out a surprised sound.

Aozaki Aoko's reaction was rather calm—through the rumors of the Fourth Holy Grail War, she must have already vaguely sensed something.

"To be precise, it used to be."

Shirou took a deep breath, met the mage's sharp gaze, and continued speaking.

"I heard about what happened eight years ago from Miss Aoko. Aoko used magic to accelerate her life by ten years—"

Actually, I've experienced the same thing; time within my body accelerated by ten years.

Aozaki Aoko immediately understood Shirou's meaning: "So that's why you didn't leave a specific impression in the Holy Grail War, making the story more controversial?"

After all, one minute he's fighting as a child, and the next he's fighting as an adult... Hmm, this is really interesting.

"But this is not my first time traveling through time."

"Huh! Did Shirou already have time travel experience before the Holy Grail War?"

Even Aozaki Aoko was taken aback.

Even before the Fourth Holy Grail War, Shirou had experienced being accidentally transported to parallel worlds more than once.

The second magic, "Parallel World Management".

Time travel is also categorized as an application of the second law.

So, if Shirou isn't mistaken—

"I think I should have an extraordinary ability to adapt to time travel."

Just as Masters have their own adaptability and Spirit Particle Transfer has its own adaptability, Time Travel also has its own adaptability.

Different people are likely to be suited to time travel in different ways.

Based on his past experiences, Shirou deduced that he possessed a time travel aptitude far exceeding that of ordinary people.

In fact, his ideas were already quite conservative.

Having lost his memory during his first trip to Britain, Shirou is unaware of the truth about his origins.

His soul comes from another dimension.

As a time traveler, Shirou's adaptability to time and space is beyond the comprehension of ordinary logic.

The series of experiences and adventures that followed were all based on Shirou's role as a time traveler.

Upon hearing the boy's words, a hint of gloom appeared on the mage's beautiful face.

"Shirou-kun, why are you telling me this? Do you want me to take you back and preserve you in formaldehyde?"

"Aoko!" Kuonji Yuju frowned and scolded.

She was also very confused as to why Shirou would tell Aoko about something like this.

There's absolutely no need to tell your secrets to a complete stranger you've just met, is there?

Yuzhu pouted, thinking to herself: Compared to telling Aoko, that carefree guy...

Amamiya-kun, don't you have a more suitable and reliable confidante (a close friend) by your side?

Unaware of the girl's wavering beside him, Shirou revealed his true purpose.

"I want to use Aoko-nee's... fifth magic power to go back 8 years—"

He said in one breath, "If it were me, I could stop the past you..."

I can save Aozaki Touko and prevent her death.

"Varied…………"

Kuonji Yuju snapped out of her reverie and opened her mouth wide in surprise.

The gentleness in the witch's dark eyes vanished in the next instant.

She stood up abruptly, looked down at the boy, and sternly rebuked him: "Amamiya-kun! Do you know what you're saying?"

"?"

Shirou was puzzled as to why she was so agitated: "Miss Arisu, are you saying that it's impossible to change the past?"

"Yes."

Kuonji Yuju clenched her small fists.

The absolute taboo in time travel: altering the past.

In various science fiction works, anyone who tries to change the past will eventually be devoured by the law of causality, becoming "someone whose interference causes events to develop in the known future."

Shirou had read many similar stories.